“What’s your point?” Bridget replied, folding her arms.
“My point is neither one of you is alone anymore, and that’s a very good thing. Good luck with the research today, Bridget. I’ll see you at dinner,” Cosimo said, and with a nod goodbye, he disappeared into the stacks.
Not alone anymore.Bridget didn’t even know what it would feel like. She swallowed the burning lump in her throat and turned back to the map, determined to put the whole awkward conversation out of her mind.
It was easier said than done because even though she knew it was going to be a terrible idea to crush on someone like Bas Greatdrakes, she also knew she wasn’t going to be able to stop.
17
By the time Bas had showered, made a tray of fresh coffee and snacks and carried it into the library, Bridget had already plotted out all the addresses onto a large map and was busy working through a pile of books.
“You are making me feel bad for not setting an alarm,” he joked and put the tray down on the table where it wouldn’t be in her way.
“I couldn’t sleep, and I’m bad at sitting still, so I thought it better to get to it. Your dad got me the map,” she said, looking up from the book she was going through. There was something shy and wary in her tone that hadn’t been there the night before, and Bas didn’t like it. Had Cosimo said something to upset her?
“Can I top up your coffee?” he asked.
Bridget took stock of the tray, and she bit back a laugh. “Did you bring me scones? Bas, has anyone told you that you are a bit of a feeder?”
“Yes, but I don’t like the idea of you being hungry. You were up early, and I wasn’t, and you didn’t eat breakfast,” he argued.
“I ate toast!” Bridget said, exasperated.
Bas made a frustrated sound. “That’s not real breakfast. Just try my scones, I’m sure you’ll like them.”
Bridget took one that was covered in strawberry jam. “Is the feeding obsession thing a dragon thing?”
No. It’s because someone had to be in charge of looking after the kitchen when my mother died, and now I can’t stop because trauma is a bitch, and I can’t handle the idea of you being hungry.
“Sure, we can go with that,” Bas said, trying to clear the spiraling thoughts in his head. “I just...want to take care of you.”
Bridget cocked her scarred brow. “Because you think I can’t take care of myself?”
Bas growled in frustration. This was coming out all wrong. “That’s not it. It pisses me off that no one has looked after you before. I like looking after people and making sure that they are fed and comfortable. I want you to feel full and safe, so I can think straight.”
Bridget put down her scone before going up on tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “You’re one of a kind, Greatdrakes.”
“And you like that?” he asked, a little uncertain.
“Hard not to like a magician who cooks and kisses like the devil,” Bridget said, picking up the scone again. “And now I’m going to go to this side of the table so I don’t kiss you and get distracted all over again.”
“I will take that as a compliment.” Bas wanted to climb over the table and kiss her anyway. “Tell me what you’ve learned while I have been sleeping. Really, you should have come in and woken me up.”
“Yeah. No. Going into your bedroom would have been a bad idea. For reasons,” Bridget said and then started going through her lists and locations with him before he could ask why it would have been a bad idea.
“All of the victims’ houses are close to the river,” Bas commented, staring at the red dots on the map.
“I noticed that too, and I have been going through books on types of sirens or other water creatures. Nothing seems to fit the pattern so far, but there is a lot of this library to get through, and I haven’t bothered with the internet either just yet,” Bridget said, her eyes bright.
Gods, she was so beautiful when she was talking about something she was excited or curious about. The prickly exterior she used to protect herself was momentarily gone in the heat of the moment.
“Are you listening?” she said sharply. “What are you staring at?”
My mate, his dragon purred, making Bas choke on his scone.
“Nothing, just thinking. Sorry,” he stammered. He needed to stop putting off that call to Taranis.
With uncanny timing, his phone started ringing in his back pocket. He quickly fished it out, and a nervous fist clenched his guts. “Kenna, twice in one week. What’s happened?”
